Let's Hear From You, The Coaches

4/3/2014

As part of #CoachesAre month, every Thursday you'll hear from a number of swim coaches answering questions about all things coaching. If you'd like to be featured, please send an email here.

Why did you want to be a coach?

“I coached with Jon Urbanchek when I went to graduate school and was in love with the sport. I pretty much knew then that I wanted to be a coach, it just took me 20 years to get back to it.” – Bruce Gemmell, Nation’s Capital Swim Club

“I wanted to become a coach, because I always enjoyed helping out my teammates growing up and it was a natural progression to be on deck and continue helping. I like the problem solving, analysis, science and other challenges that swimming provides and the resulting athletic test to see if it all works.” - Coach Philip Yoshida

“My sister, the head coach, could not get someone to be the assistant coach. She talked me into it and I have loved every minute of it since. Best job ever!” - Kristen Gregg

“I became a coach because I had a coach growing up who showed me that you can make a difference in a child’s life and help them learn good sportsmanship, as well as valuable life skills through sports.” - Carol MacDougall RAYS (Rockingham Area Youth Swim Team) New Hampshire

“I love swimming, and I love the sport. I like helping people get better.” - Coach Charyl

What’s been the most rewarding thing for you from being a coach?

“Seeing them overcome an obstacle (achieve a goal) and have that ear-to-ear grin.” - Jim Lutz

“Watching the kids want to work their tails off for each other while they became a real team, not just individuals.” - Dawn McAfee

“The very best thing, the thing that makes everything worthwhile, is when a swimmer achieves something that they originally thought that they couldn’t. I love being a part of that discovery of power and success.” - Betsy Hondorf

“The enjoyment you see in the growth and personal success of each individual and in watching them grow up and the feedback you get from them how you had an importance in their life. Especially as years go on and you save the notes and letters they send.” - George T Breen

What’s your favorite drill or workout?

“Every day’s workout is a favorite for me, regardless being a hard one or a recovery, because it is a new one with different focuses, challenges, and purposes.” - JiaLin Sun (Sunny)

“For Back I like building the stroke from the kick: kicking on the back, on the side with balance, side-to-side finding balance, adding the arms while keeping balance, adding strength in the pull, connecting the strength of the pull across the core to the kick of the opposite foot.” - Mike Slotnick